MA SNAP CHALLENGE ~ Day 1For those of you who missed my original post, this week myself and colleagues have been…
Posted by State Representative Jim Hawkins on Monday, June 11, 2018
One SNAP Challenge Ends; More Ahead
Published on June 18, 2018
Could you afford to eat on $4.56 per day?
That was the challenge several Team Members from The Greater Boston Food Bank (GBFB) took last week, alongside anti-hunger advocates across Massachusetts.
The goal of the SNAP Challenge was to raise awareness and show solidarity with the 42 million Americans who rely on SNAP to put food on the table.
Boston Herald, NECN, Sun Chronicle, and WGBH covered the challenge.
So, how did they do?
SNAP Challenge
Yesterday morning I visited the The Spanish American Center, Inc. with Ginny's Helping Hands and Food Pantry and…
Posted by State Representative Natalie Higgins on Friday, June 15, 2018
Starting the second day of trying to feed our family of five on the average amount of SNAP benefits a family like ours…
Posted by Rep. Jack Patrick Lewis on Tuesday, June 12, 2018
“In Haverhill, we have 9,685 SNAP recipients. As a legislator, I always try to best understand the lives that my constituents live. In this scenario, I get to walk a week in the shoes of those 9,685 constituents of mine.” #MASNAPChallenge #foodsecurityhttps://t.co/kqGECcFJsD
— Andy X. Vargas (@RepAndyVargas) June 12, 2018
Today as part of The Greater Boston Food Bank's #MASNAPChallenge I'm eating only what I bought for under the amount…
Posted by Solomon Goldstein-Rose on Thursday, June 14, 2018
This week, @DTA_Listens Commissioner Jeff McCue will be participating in the #SNAP Challenge hosted by @Gr8BosFoodBank @WorcCtyFoodBank to show solidarity with SNAP recipients. Check in here during the week to see how the Commissioner is doing. pic.twitter.com/YG3ykbqc4a
— Mass. DTA (@DTA_Listens) June 11, 2018
To see more posts from participants documenting their experiences, search for #MASNAPChallenge on social media.
While the week-long Challenge may be over for participants, the struggle of maintaining a healthy diet on a tight budget remains an everyday reality for too many of our neighbors. Recognizing how difficult it is to live on SNAP, participants could only imagine what life would be like without this vital benefit.
“It is a critical resource for a lot of people in our state. It is challenging to eat on a low budget. I can’t imagine trying to do that, at that level, with children or with an older parent.” – Adriene Worthington, GBFB Assistant Director of Nutrition
2018 Farm Bill Update
Congress continues to debate the 2018 Farm Bill — legislation that funds federal food assistance programs, including SNAP. Both the House of Representatives and the Senate will vote on their versions of the bill before the July 4th recess.
The Farm Bill should not break the long history of bipartisan commitment to ensure struggling families across the country have enough to eat. Strengthening SNAP, not cutting it, is the right way forward.
Act to Protect SNAP:
- Call your Representative (1-888-398-8702) and urge her/him to vote against H.R.2
- Not sure who your Representative is? Find out here.
- Send Senator Warren and Senator Markey an email through this form email.
- Call Senator Warren and Senator Markey and encourage them to support SNAP!
- Senator Warren – (202) 224-4543
- Senator Markey – (202) 224-2742
- Share on Facebook and Twitter why #SNAPMatters and tag @GR8BosFoodBank.
To receive updates on the 2018 Farm Bill process, sign up for GBFB action alerts here.
